Fungicide and insecticide



Patented Nov. 18, 1924-.

uNirEo STAT-as -PArrNr OFFICE.

HARRY 'c. YOUNG, or s'r. Louis, MISSOURI.

runorcrnn AND msno'rrcrnn.

1E0 Drawing.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, HARRY C. YOUIQ'G, a citizen of the United States, andaresident of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have mixtures. Such mixtures have usually comprised flowers of sulphur, lime sulphur, and

so forth. But these sulphur mixtures have proved unsatisfactory for many reasons, among which may be noted: that they often burn the trees or plants on which they are, used, that they frequently require specialv conditions for their use, that they cannot be used enerally against most known fun i, and t at they are not retained effective y on the sprayed tree or plant.

One of the objects of this invention is'accordingly to produce a fungicide and insecticide which will exert a lasting effectiveness on the tree or plant.

A further object of this invention is .to produce a fungicide and insecticide whose sulphur content in characterized by its readiness of oxidation.

A still further object of this invention is to produce a fungicide and insecticide whose activity is not influenced effectively by climatic factors. Y

Other and further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood that various changes may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.

As the result of extended research, certain fundamental factors have been determined, a knowledge 'of which has enabled a better scientific development. and control of fungicidal and insecticidal compositions. Some of the factors thus determined may be summarizedas follows: The toxicity of sul- Applioation filed April 4,1923. Serial No. 629,872.

lons (present for example in lime sulphur mixtures) (2) calcium thiosulphate or other thiosulphates; sulphitesand sulphates; (4:) hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, and sulphur. trioxide. value of sulphur mixtures is due almost entirelyto precipitated sulphur, directly or indirectly leading to the formation of polythionates, the toxic properties of these mix-- turesbeingrelated to the presence or formation of p'olythionates, particularly the pentathionate formed from the precipitated sulphur. When'the sulphur of the sulphur mixture is present in the hydro hobic condition, the resence of water an of o are particu arly desirable. As a resu t of these determinations, in our work, sulphur mixtures are preferably. used for the reasons stated above. Among the various factors that it has been found are profitably limited, the following are noted: the effective fun icidal and germicidal agent, for examp e, sulphur, should be present under conditions which enable .ready oxidation to produce the desired products. In the case of sulphur, these conditions will include the presence gen phur mixtures is not due to (1) .hydroxyl The lasting fungicidal of sulphur in a preferably finely divided condition with moisture or water so that oxidation readily takes place with the formation of such compounds as pentathionic acid. The hydrogen ion concentration of these mixtures is preferably also carefully controlled since the best results are obtained under limited conditions of hydrogen ion' concentrations. Further, since pentathionic acid and related compoundsare quite volatile, it is often desirable to incorporate with the mixture a colloidal or adsorptive substance, which serves to retain the active fungicidal and insecticidal agents in contact with the tree or 'lant.

With these desirabl fundamental observations in mind, a number of examples will be given. These examplesit will be found will generally group themselves into two closely related groups, depending for the most part on the condition of the sulphur present in them. But it will be understood that these sulphur mixtures are not necessarily mutually exclusive, inasmuch as the sulphur may be present in several forms in the same mixture.

1. Lime sulphur mixtures prepared commercially, or as made by boiling together calcium oxide and sulphur in the proportions of one part of calcium oxide to one to three parts of sulphur or one part of sulphur to one to three parts of ca cium oxide, are precipitated b an acid, for example, phosphoric acid. he acid is added to the mixture until no more precipitate is formed and preferably until the hydrogen ion concentration is between P =3.2 to 6.4. Other acids may be used in producin this recipitate, for example sulphuric aci hy-- rochloric acid, andother, preferably minpreviously dissolved in hot water, is added to five pounds of the sulphur precipitate. Other adsorptive and colloidal substances may be used in place of glue, for example, casein, diatomaceous earth, or any adsorptive colloid that preferably will not materially change the reaction of the mixture.

The mixtures thus prepared, contain the sulphur in hydrophobic form and may bev used for the best effects, in concentrations as follows: from one pound of the precipitated sulphur and colloid mixture to live gallons of water, to one pound of precipitated sulphur and colloid to 25 allons of water and will be found to be rea ily oxidized at even ordinary temperatures in the presence of oxygen, and form very effective mixtures for the control of fungous and insect pests on plants of all kinds. If desired, other insecticides maybe added to these mixtures.

5. A saturated solution of sodium thiosulphate is made and add sulphuric acid added slowly tothis concentrated until both the thiosulphate and acid are practically destroyed. The proportions of sodium thiosulphate and acid are about 5Ov parts of the former to parts of the latter, by weight. The mixture is kept 'cool during the addition of the sulphuric acid to the sodium thiosulphate, is then warmed to 80 C. and then filtered while hot through a fine mesh screen, gauze or cloth. The hydrogen ion concentration is then adjusted to preferably P 3.2 to 5.8. In place'of the reacting ingredients given above, any acid preferably min- ..eral maybe used, while other thiosulphate such as potassium, calcium, and ammonium are also usable 1n place of the sod1um salt.

to a hydrogen ion concentration of.

ion concentration ofP =4=.2 to 5.4:.

6. Sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide are passed, preferably simultaneously, into water, keeing the sulphur dioxide. in excess, fora periodof one 'totwent '-four hours depending on the quantity'o water present.

The hydrogen ion concentration is preferabl adjusted to P :3.2 to 5.8.

he mixtures ofexamples 5 'and 6 may be used directly.

On testing they are found to contain soluble sulphur, pentathionic acid, salts of polythionic acids, IDSOlllblB-Blll hur,

and Water, and impurities, sulp ates.

The quantity of sulphur present has a valuable function in preventing a too ra" id volatilization of the pentathionic and. The

quantity of the sulphur and water present in the mixtures is sufficient to generate pen.- tathionic acid continuously.

ona tree for example, these mixtures adhere closely to the leaves and cannot bereadily. washed off, as by rain.

In general, it may be stated that hydrogen ion concentration is aver important contributing factor in all 0 the described mixtures. For the best results, it is preferably maintained between the limits PH=4..2 to 5.4.- I

Having thus set.forth my invention, I claim:

1. A fungicide and insecticide containing,v

a sulphur mixture, and having anhydrogen ion concentrationYof P =3.2 to 6.4. 2. A fungicide and insecticide containing a sulphur mixture and having a hydrogen ion concentration of P =3.2 to 5.8.

3. A fungicide and insecticide containing a sulphur mixture and having a hydrogen 4. A fungicide and insecticide containing finely divided sulphur and having a. hydrogen ion concentration of P =3.2 to 6.4.

5. A fungicide and insecticide containin soluble sulphur, pentathionic acid, salts o polythionic .acids, insoluble sulphur,- an

water.

Due to its con-- 'dition, it will be found that when sprayed 6. A fungicide and insecticide as set forth I in claim 5 containing besides the ingredients set forthwin that claim, sulphates.

7. A fungicideand insecticide as set forth in claim 5, and having a hydrogen ion concentration of P =3.2 to 5.8.

8. A composition as set forth in claim 5 and having a hydrogen ion concentration of P =i2 to 5.4.

9. The process of producing .a fungicide and insecticide mixture which comprises treating a thiosulphate with a mineral acid,

keeping the mixture cool during the addition of the acid, warming to degrees (3., and filtering.

10. The process of producing a fungicidal mixture which comprises treating a thiosulphate with a mineral acid, kee mg the mixture cool during the addition 0 the 13. A fungicide as set forth in claim 12 wherein the adsorptive substance is glue.

14:. A fungicide as set forth in claim 12 wherein the adsorptive substance is a colloid.

15. The process of producing a fungicide and insecticide which comprises precipitating sulphur from its compounds and then adjusting the hydrogen ion concentration of the mixture containing the precipitate to P =3.2 to 6.4.

16. A process as set forth in claim 15, in which the sulphur precipitate has added thereto an adsorptive substance.

17. The process of producing a fungicide and insecticide which comprises recipitating sulphur in its hydrophilic form, and then adjusting the hydrogen ion concentration of the mixture containing the precipitate to P =3.2 to 5.8.

18. A fungicide and insecticide containing soluble sulphur, insoluble sulphur, pentathionic acid, salts of polythionic acids, sulphates, and Water and having its hydro- HARRY c. YOUNG.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that Letters Patent No. 1,515,803, granted November 18, 1924, upon the application of Harry G. Young, of St. Louis, Missour for an improvement in Fungicides and Insecticides, were erroneously issued to the inventor, said Young, as owner of said invention, whereas said Letters Patent should have been issued to Walter G. OKane, of Durham, New Hampshire, and Paul Moore, of Washrington, D. 0., as trustees of Crop Protection Institute, an Association of Washington, D. page 1, line 36, for the word in read is' page 2, line 68, for the word keeing read keeping; and that the said Letters fatent should be read with these corrections-therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signedand sealed this 3d day of March, A. D. 1925..

[SEAL] KARL FENNING,

cting Commissioner of Patents.

. gen ion concentration adjusted to P =3.2 

